Having a clean home that’s neat, tidy, and presentable to others is a source of pride for many. Likewise, a clean and tidy office is also welcoming and inviting to clients, but sometimes it can be hard to schedule the time to devote to dusting, washing windows, waxing floors, and vacuuming. That’s why so many people choose to hire maids and janitors to keep their residential homes and commercial office buildings clean. Choosing a reputable house cleaning service can be tough, though. You want to be able to trust the people you hire to do a good job and charge a decent rate. You also want someone dependable who will show up on time for your daily or weekly cleaning requests, whether that involves dusting your kitchen blinds, polishing your marble floors, or scrubbing the bathroom. Before calling around for the best rates and availability, know the questions to ask the company representatives.

Do you offer services that are beyond the norm, such as scrubbing grout, washing dirty dishes, and pet stain and odor removal from upholstery and carpets?
You may have to pay extra for these chores, as many maids simply do the basics, such as dusting, caring for wood floors, and trash removal.

Do you offer domestic maid services?
You may have to hire a specialist, such as a domestic nanny, to provide live-in care for your kids along with household responsibilities such as laundry and washing windows.

Do you beat competitors’ rates?
Ask if they do, because some will match the lowest rate you’ve found in your research. Many also offer coupons and specials at different times of the year, so inquire about those when calling to save yourself some money on residential and commercial cleaning.

When you find a home cleaning service you like, do your research before signing a contract with the domestic company. First, ask what jobs and rooms they include in their package. Get an inventory of exactly what is cleaned in the kitchen and bathroom, since these rooms often get dirty and harbor odors faster than the rest. Ask about whether they dust wood and marble fixtures, clean stain out of grout and vacuum upholstery as well as carpet. Find out what the rate is for their full package, so you know exactly what you are paying for.

You also want to know that the maids and janitors that come to clean your home are trustworthy and reliable. Ask the cleaning company if their employees are bonded and how long they have been with the company. Find out if there is commercial liability coverage to protect your office upholstery, blinds and windows. It is also good to find out if the commercial cleaning company has references, so you can find out if other customers were happy in how the maids cleaned their homes.

By the same token, make sure the maids that come to clean your dirty house are actual employees of the residential cleaning service. Some companies contract out their help, leaving you unsure whether the maids will be trustworthy or do a good job of cleaning your home. You might also want to know if the company brings its own cleaning supplies or if you can leave your own solutions for cleaning the floor, laundry, windows and dishes. Ask about their policy on pets in the house, so you know what to do with yours before an appointment. A little research will go a long way in choosing the best residential cleaning service for your needs.